Typographical composing machine



Nov. 8, 1927. 1,648,133

D. S. KENNEDY TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1925 INVENTOR Patented Nov. 8, 1927.

VIUN'ITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID S. KENNEDY, OFBROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MERGEN'II-IALER LING- TYPE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE.

Application filed February'2, 1925. Serial No. 6,173.

My invention relates to typographical composing machines, such as linotype machines of the general organization represented in Letters Patent of the United States to O. Mergenthaler No. 436,532, wherein circulating matrices are released by escapements from a channeled magazine in the order in which their characters are to appear in print, and then assembled in line, in the composed line transferred to the face of a mold, the mold filled with molten metal toiiorm a slug or linotype a gainst the matrices which produce the type characters thereon, and the matrices thereafter returned in through a distributing. mechanism to the magazine from which they started. In these machines, as the matrices are released from the magazine, they pass into a so-called assembler entrance provided with a series of vertically disposed partition plates -which guide and direct the matrices upon a constantly driven inclined belt discharging into the assembler. These partition plates are fastened at their rear edges to the back plate of the assembler entrance and extend to the upper edge thereof, being spaced apart at their. upper ends to align with certain of the magazine channels. Heretoiore, during composition, the upper portion of the entrance back plate has formed a direct continuation of the magazine bottom plate, so that the matrices when released from the magazine would enter the assembler entrance without hindrance. l/Vith this arrangement, however, unless the parts are specially designed tor the purpose, it is not feasible to handle matrix tonts above a certain thickness, for the reason that the thicker matrices of such fonts, due to the varying angles at which the magazine channels are disposed, fail to leave the magazine and become wedged against the entrance partition plates.

It is the primary object of my invention to obviate this difficulty and provide means whereby the standard magazine and assembler entrance will be adapted to handle relatively thicker matrices in the usual way.

To this end, the delivery end of the magazine, instead of registering directly with the assembler entrance, as heretofore, is spaced therefrom a sufiicient distance to allow the lower projecting ears of the matrices to pass out of the magazine channels before the bodies of the matrices are engaged by the entrance partition plates, and in the space til) thus created, there is located a ribbed plate which bridges or closes the gap between the bottom plate of the magazine and the back plate of the entrance and which acts to support and guide the matrices in the proper manner as they pass from the magazine into further advantageous, since it permits the protruding escapement plungers of the lower magazine to clear the entrance back plate when that magazine is raised. above the en trance for inspection or removal.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown my improvements merely in preferred form and by way of example, and as applied to a particular kind of machine. It will be obvious, however, that theymay be embodied in other forms and applied to machines of other kinds without departing from the spiritot my invention. Generally speaking, 1 desire t to be understood that I do not wish to limit myselfto any specific form or embodiment, except in so far as such limitations are set forth in. the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1' is a vertical section, partly in elevation, taken through the upper part of the assembler entrance and the lower end ot a magazine, showing the application of the present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, showing a portion of the assembler entrance with its front cover plate removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectiontaken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the relative location of the assembler partition plates and ma azine channels in connection with the int erposed bridge plate;

Fig. l is a view similar to Fig. 3,- taken at the opposite side of the magazine; and

Fig. 5 illustrates a modification.

In the embodiment shown, the matrices X are stored according to font in the two standard magazines A and B, whichare mounted so that either may be brought into operative relation to the assembler entrance C, the latter comprising, as usual, the back plate C cover plate G and the series of intervening upri' 'ht partition plates These partition plates C are fastened. edgewise to the back plate C and are spaced apart their u per ends so that matricesescaping from the magazine will be guided and directed thereby onto the assembler belt C In the present instance, the magazines A and B are of the regular trapezoidal shape, each being provided on the inner faces of its two side plates with series of ribs a presenting sets of opposing grooves a which converge from the upperto the lower ends thereof and provide channels wherein the projecting ears X of the matrices engage. The escapement mechanisms employed to effect the release of the matrices from the respective n'iagazines are mounted in the escapen'ient bars or frames A B each escapement unit consisting, as us al, of the verge or rocking lever it, the actuating plunger A and the alternately acting pawls A The actuating plungers A are opera-ted from a keyboard mechanism (not shown) through the customary pivoted levers D. The parts so far described, except as hereinafter specified, are or may be the same as shown in my prior Patent No. 1,886,786, to which reference may be had if desired.

lnas nuch as the invention is applicable to a single magazine, it will be described in detail in connection with the magazine A, only, that being the one shown in operative position in the drawin (Ewing to the convergence of the magazine channels, the matrix columns stored in one side of the magazine will be disposed at certain angles to the partition plates C (see 3), while the matrix columns stored in the opposite side of the magazine will be disposed at reverse angles to the partition plates (see Fig. l- Hence, in a font of the size indicated, the thiclzer matrices, say, of columns 1, 2, 3, a and 5, would contact with the upper ends of the partition plates C if the latter extended, as heretofore, close up to the delivery end of the magazine, and would consequently be prevented from leaving the magazine grooves, as before pointed out. According to the present invention, a bridge plate E is interposed between the upper end of the entrance back plate C and the bottom plate of the magazine A (see Fig. 1) and is made wide enough to enable the lower projecting ears of the matrices to pass out of the magazine channels before the matrices themselves engage the partition plates. In the embodiment shown, the bridge plate E is fastened to the escapement frame A and is formed on its upper edge with a series of ribs E and intervening notches E the said ribs and notches registering with and forming continuations of the magazine ribs and grooves a and a respectively. As will be noted, the entrance partition plates C are arranged in vertical alignment with only certain of the ribs E there being fewer partition plates than there are magazine channels, as customary. Some of the notches E are wider than the corresponding magazine channels, preferably those adjacent and to the right of the partition plates C (Fig. 3) and also those adjacent and to the left of other partition plates (Fig. As a result of the foregoing arrangement, and since the leading ends of the matrices will be free as they strilte the partition plates C the latter will merely straighten them up or cam them facewise and allow them to escape uninterruptedly to the assembler belt C ll hile desirable, it is not absolutely essential that the ribs of the bridge plate E correspond in number and arrangemeir to the magazine ribs (1. Thus, those ribs with which the partition plates C register are the most important, since they serve, as intended, to prevent the matrices stored in the. channels adjacent from catching behind the upper ends of the partition plates before their side faces come under the control thereof. On the other hand, the other ribs are useful in preventing twisting or undue deflection of the matrices they pass from the magazine into the assembler entrance.

11 corresponding bridge plate F secured to the escapement frame B serves in the same capacity as the plate E when the magazine B is in operative position.

As before stated, the present invention has an additional advantage when applied to the type of multiple n agazine machine described in my prior Patent No. 1,386,786 before mentioned, and wherein the magazines are pivoted near their upper ends so that the selected one may be swung into operative position. In other words, when the magazine B is provided with the bridge plate F (as shown in Fig. 1), the escape ncnt plungers B of that magazine will readily clear the entrance back plate C when the inz'tgazine is raised above the entrance for removal, whereas without the bridge plate the j ilungers would strike the bacl: plate unless otaerwise provided for. Instead of being carried by the escapement frame, as above described, the bridge plate may, as shown in Fig. 5, take the form of a ledge A protruoing from the bottom plate of the magazine. This and other modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art still be comprised within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, its construction and mode operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. In a linotype machine, the combination of a matrix magazine, an assembler entrance ill) lllll having its back plate spaced from the delivery end of the magazine, and a ribbed plate to bridge such space and forming a continuation only of the bottom plate of the magazine, leaving the top plate of the magazine unextended.

2. In a linotype machine, the combination of a matrix ma azine, an assembler entrance having its back plate spaced from the delivery end of the magazine, an escapement frame, and a ribbed plate carried by the escapement frame to bridge such space, said plate forming a continuation only of the bottom plate of the magazine and leaving the top plate of the magazine unextenoled.

In a linotype machine, the combination oi a grooved matrix magazine, an assembler entrance having its back plate spaced from the delivery end of the magazine, and a plate to bridge such space, the said bridge plate being formed on its upper edge with ribs aligned with the corresponding magazine ribs, and the said plate forming a continuation only of the bottom plate of the magazine and leaving the top plate of the magazine unextended.

4. In a linotype machine, the combination of a groovedniatrix magazine, an assembler entrance having partition plates arranged to cooperate with the matrices as they escape from the magazine, and abridge plate arranged between the delivery end of the magazine and the upper end of the assembler entrance, said plate being formed with notches registering with and forming continuations ot' the magazine grooves, certain 01 said notches adjacent the partition plates being wider than the registering magazine grooves, for the purpose described.

5', In a linotype machine, the combination of a grooved matrix magazine, an assembler entrance having a series of vertically disposed partitions, and a bridge plate arranged between the delivery end of the magazine and the upper end of the entrance back plate, the said bridge plate being formed with transverse ribs aligned with the partition plates and with intervening notches registering with the corresponding magazine grooves, and the said plate forming a continuation only of the bottom plate of the magazine and leaving the top plate of the magazine unextended.

6. In a linotype machine, the combination of a' plurality otmatrix magazines interchangeable in position with each other, an assembler entrance having the upper end of its back plate spaced from the delivery end of the magazines, and plates carried by the respective magazines for bridging such space when a selected magazine is brought into operative position, said plates forming continuations only of the bottom plates of the respective magazines, leaving their top plates unextended.

7. In a linotype machine, the combination of a magazine, an assembler entrance having the upper end of its back plate spaced from the delivery end of the magazine to permit swinging of the latter above the entrance, and a plate for bridging such space when the magazine is in operative position, said plate forming a continuation only of the bottom plate of the magazine, leaving its top plate uneXtended.

8. In alinotype machine, the combination oi a grooved magazine, an assembler entrance provided with a. series of partition plates and having the upper endot its back plate spaced from the delivery end of the magazine, and a plate for bridging such space when the magazine is in use, the said bridge plate being formed on its upper edge with transverse ribs registering with the entrance partition plates and the corresponding magazine ribs, and the said plate forming a continuation only of the bottom plate of the magazine and leaving the top plate of the magazine unextended.

9. In a linotype machine, the combination of a grooved magazine, an assembler entrance provided with a series of partition plates and having the upper end of its back plate spaced from the delivery end of the magazine, and a plate for bridging such space when the magazine is in use, the said bridge plate being formed on its upper edge with transverse ribs registering with the entrance partition plates and the corresponding magazine ribs, and also formed alongside of said transverse ribs with notches of sufiicient width to allow the matrices to be displaced laterally as they leave the magazine.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature hereto.

DAVID S. KENNEDY. 

